EMERGENCY AND DISASTER PREPAREDNESS

This training was developed for the benefit of and with funds from the Maryland State

Department of Education.

Key Ideas

• Developing and using an Emergency Disaster and Preparedness Plan assists providers in responding to emergencies in an organized manner.

• Planning for emergencies is critical because of the vulnerability of the children in our care especially those with special needs.

• Maryland child care providers are vulnerable to natural disasters and man-made emergencies of all kinds. It is important to develop a planned response to possible emergency situations.

• An Emergency Disaster and Preparedness Plan will enable child care staff to effectively communicate while providing a safe haven for all children during disasters and emergencies.

• It is important to identify items for inclusion in the Disaster Supply Kit.

Maryland COMAR Regulations

• Emergency telephone numbers posted

• Up-to-date Emergency Information Cards for each child enrolled

• Emergency escape plan posted

• Monthly fire/emergency evacuation drills

• Teaching children to dial 911

• Up-to-date First Aid Kit maintained

• Evacuation location identified

• Training and a written Emergency Disaster and Preparedness Plan (as of July 2010)

Why Plan?????

• To ensure the safety and mental well-being of the children

• To provide support to parents

• To ensure that staff members work as a “team”

• To “Be Responsible…Be Ready”

Partnering with Emergency Management

• Emergency Management Offices are maintained at the federal, state and local government levels.

• Department of Homeland Security

• Non-Government and Volunteer Organizations

• Private Sector

During an Emergency…..

• The Office of Emergency Management activates an Emergency Operations Center to coordinate community resources.

• In the event of an emergency, call 911 –not the Emergency Operations Center.

How to Reduce the Impact of Emergencies and Disasters

• Regularly monitor for possible threats and hazards

• Regularly clean and check heating, cooking, gas and electrical systems

• Check and maintain all carbon monoxide and smoke detectors (twice a year)

• Ensure fire extinguishers are properly charged, mounted, and easy to reach in case of fire

How to Reduce the Impact of Emergencies or Disasters

• All staff and family members are trained in the proper use of fire extinguishers

• Ensure that there are no barriers that will prevent a safe exit

• Consider purchasing a generator for back-up power

• Buy a NOAA All-hazards Alert Radio or sign up for text messages.

Program Hazard Assessment

Think about your physical building both inside and outside.

• Are there things that pose a safety threat inside?

• Are there things that pose a safety threat outside?

• Are there natural land features which could impact safety?

Program Hazard Assessment

What steps can you take to protect the children…

• Inside?

• Outside?

Know Your Risks

• Attacks

• Natural Disasters

• Technological Disasters

Which emergencies are likely to happen in your area?

State and Local Disaster History

• In the past the State of Maryland has experienced the following disasters:

– Blizzards

– Earthquakes

– Flooding

– Hurricanes

– Ice Storms

– Snow Storms

– Tornadoes

Possible Emergency Situations to Consider

• Natural Disasters

• Medical Emergencies

• Technological Failures

• Family/Community Concerns – and/or Violence

• Disgruntled or Impaired Adults

• Hostage Issues

• Perimeter Issues

• Missing Child

• Active Shooter,Terrorism and other potentially violent situations

Preparing for Different Types of Disasters

• In your small group discuss your assigned disaster.

• Fill out the worksheet describing the disaster and answering the questions.

• Be prepared to report out to the large group.

Pandemic Influenza

• It is important to establish procedures before and during an outbreak that address

– The program’s sick child/adult policy

– How to control the spread of flu

– How to recognize flu symptoms

– How to care for ill family members

Child Generated Threats

• Remain Calm

• Watch for body language

• Interrupt the action that may escalate

• Redirect children’s attention

• Allow time away if may cause injury

• Give attention

Active Shooter

• Be aware of your environment and possible dangers

• Visually locate two exits in the building

• Evacuate if there is a safe route

• If you are in an office, stay there and secure the door

• If you are in a hallway, get into a room and secure the door

• As a last resort, attempt to take the shooter down

• Call 911 when it is safe to do so

• Consider creating an Emergency Action Plan (EAP) to prepare for this type of situation

Emergency Plan Content

Procedures to consider

• Evacuation Procedures and Process

• Sheltering in Place vs. Off-site

• Forms of Communication

• Helping Staff, Parents and Children Prepare

Short Term Safety Procedures

• Evacuation

• Shelter-in-Place

• Lockdown

When To Evacuate

• Predetermined Evacuation Site

• Mandatory Local Evacuation Site

• Mass Ordered Evacuation

Transportation Issues…………….

Evacuation Procedures

• Evacuations should be conducted in an orderly fashion – no running, walk in lines, quietly, etc.

• Bring along your attendance sign in/out sheet for the day

• Carry your Disaster Supply Kit for off-site evacuations.

Sheltering-In-Place

• Most common form of response to an emergency

• Safer option

• Predetermined “Safe Zone”

– Where is the “safe zone” in your location?

Lock Down

• Procedure to secure children and staff inside the building inside a classroom or other secure area due to an immediate threat.

• Used in situations that may result in harm to a person inside the building (intruder, active shooter, hostage incident, trespassing, etc.)

Fire and Evacuation Drills

• Monthly fire drills are mandatory

– At least 2 of the drills should be held at naptime.

• Two evacuation drills per year are mandatory

Safeguarding Records

It is important to consider

• Where will you keep children and business records?

• Which records will you need in the case of an emergency?

• How will you transport these records during an evacuation?

Communication

• How will you communicate inside your facility? Outside your facility?

• What forms of communication will you use?

• Is the equipment tested regularly?

• In the event of a power failure, what alternate warning system will be used?

Assisting Staff to Prepare

• Set up staff emergency responsibilities before the need arises

• Locate Emergency Information Posters throughout facility

• Provide annual training in Emergency procedures

• Update staff emergency information on a regular basis

• Provide staff access to all emergency information.

Assisting Parents to Prepare

• Provide parents a copy of your Emergency Plan on a regular basis

• Provide Parent Meetings to explain the emergency procedures

• Update family emergency information on a regular basis

• Provide parents information on home preparedness

Assisting Children to Prepare

• Have regular emergency drills

• Provide informative yet non-threatening activities and discussions on types of emergencies

• Books

• Provide toys, books and games to keep everyone busy while sheltering

• Have children make their own Disaster Supply Kit

Developing Activities for Children

• In your small group select a book

• Read the book together

• How could you use this book with the children in your care to prepare them for an emergency?

• Develop an activity you could do with the children.

• Be prepared to share with the group

Persons with Special Health Needs

• Make sure the plan takes into account actions needed to assist children or staff members with physical, mental, emotional, vision, or hearing needs

• How and by whom will needed equipment or medications be transported

• Consider non-ongoing special needs, i.e. broken leg

Putting Together a Disaster Supply Kit

What Supplies Will You Need?

• General Supplies

– Water

– Food

– Battery-operated radio with extra batteries

– Flashlight and extra batteries

• Important Documents

Disaster Supply Kit

• Infant/Toddler Supplies

– Diapers and Wipes

– Formula and Food

• PreSchool/School-Age Supplies

• Adult Supplies

• Administrative Supplies

Disaster Supply Kit

• First Aid Kit

• Medication

• Clothing and Bedding

• Sanitation Supplies

• Entertainment

What Would You Do?

• Read your scenario.

• Identify the problem.

• Make a list of possible solutions to the problem.

– What would you do?

– How will you communicate?

– What will you say to the children?

– What will you do when the emergency is over?

Scenario #1

During rest time in the afternoon, you hear rumblings outside your classroom and begin to smell smoke. When you open the door the hallway is filled with smoke and the director is looking for the fire alarm to pull it. The center is located in an old school building and you have had announced fire drills monthly. The alarm was disconnected from the fire company when the school was closed.

Scenario #2

It is after 5 p.m. one evening. Billy’s father arrives to pick him up. He is unsteady on his feet and smells like alcohol. He is yelling at Billy to hurry up and get his things so they can leave. Billy looks frightened and slowly leaves his game to gather his possessions.

Scenario #3

You are outside in the play area with the children when you hear a painful child’s cry. When you reach the problem you find Ashley lying under the slide with her arm twisted in an awkward position. She is screaming and you suspect that the arm may be broken. There is no extra staff at work today.

Scenario #4

It is 10:30 am and all of the electricity goes off in the center. You call the electric company. They are unsure about when the power will be restored. What do you do?

Parts of the Plan

• Program Information

– Location

– Size

– Possible Hazards

• Local Emergency Operations Center

– Location

– Telephone Number

Parts of the Plan

• Local Emergency Services Telephone Numbers

– Ambulance, Fire and Police

– Health Department

– Hospital

– Local Office of Child Care

– Poison Control Center

– Utilities

Parts of the Plan

• Evacuation Sites

– Two sites -- nearby and distant

–Do you have a formal written agreement? If not, when will one be completed?

–How often will the agreement be reviewed?

–How will you transport the children?

Parts of the Plan

• Task Responsibility

– Declaring the emergency

– Sheltering in Place vs. Evacuation

– Contacting families

– Carrying essential Document File

– Carrying Disaster Supply Kit

– Final building check

• How Children, Staff and Program Records will be safeguarded

– What will you include for the children?

– What will you include for the business?

– Where will the records be stored?

– How will you transport the records?

Parts of the Plan

• Emergency Communication

– Who is responsible?

– How will you communicate? List items

– Where will these items be stored? Maintained?

• Disaster Supply Kit

– Contents

– How often will it be reviewed?

Parts of the Plan

• Other Considerations…Who will

– Account for all children and adults

– Review Emergency Plan

– Communicate plan to staff and parents

– Be responsible for Fire Drills

– Be responsible for Emergency/Disaster Drills

Parts of the Plan

• Procedures and Strategies

– For natural emergency situations

– For difficult situations with adults

– For improving programs ability to handle emergency situations

Email Presenter

1) DRAFT: Draft of emergency plan is due to presenter within 5business days of training.

2) CORRECTIONS: Your draft will be reviewed and may need changes before approval! Corrections will be requested via email. You must resubmit a corrected plan within 5 business days of when the correction request email was sent. (Please note, plans may need multiple corrections.)

3) APPROVAL: You will receive an email when your plan has been approved. Your final approved plan will be signed and mailed with your certificate to the address provided at registration.

A completed plan with all corrections must be completed within 30 days of the training. If the plan is submitted after 30 days, participants

will need to reregister and pay for the class again.

Email Plan

• You may type your plan into the provided digital form and email it.

• You may take a photo of your handwritten plan and email it.

• You may scan your handwritten plan and email it. Don’t have a scanner? Use a free app on a smart device:

– Scanner App

– CamScanner

– Adobe Scan

Email Plan

• If you do not have access to computer, scanner, or a smart phone or device, you can schedule a time between 9 am to 4 pm Monday-Thursday to come to the Resource Room to scan and email the documents.

• Please see your presenter with questions.

Important Dates

• Training Date __________

• Draft Plan Due Date __________

• Last Day for Corrections __________

• Trainer Email ___________________

• Optional scheduled visit _______

Websites• http://www.fema.gov/areyouready/

• http://www.fema.gov/kids

• http://www.mema.state.md.us

• http://www.sesameworkshop.org/initiatives/emotion/ready

• http://www.redcross.org/

• http://www.cdc.gov/

Websites

• http://www.cdc.gov/

• http://www.bepreparedbeready.org/

• http://www.naccrra.org/disaster/

• http://aap.org/family/frk/frkit.htm